pensacola beach HIGH TIDES AND GOOD VIBES

By Magi Thomley Williams

Afew months ago, Meg Peltier was contacted by Shelley Johnson, owner of Pensacola Beach’s local newspaper Island Times, who shared that the Pensacola Beach Chamber had been without a president for several months. Peltier was invited to help get the organization on its feet.

While she considered the offer, she asked herself, “How can I be of service? What can I do to help? What can I bring to the table?”

Then she agreed to the offer.

“It was a challenging year because so much had to be done. A lot had to be undone. So, I just rolled up my sleeves. Everything had to be fixed – the phone system, the air conditioning, building repairs – which was no one’s fault. It was just the circumstances, just trying to survive the effects of COVID.”

Much has changed since Peltier took leadership of the chamber.

“Things are going great for us. Chamber memberships are growing. I’ve just got this great team that we’re building. When I took the job, there were a couple of people here, then recently I hired Jessica Simpson who worked at the Greater Pensacola Chamber, then Jack Brink, who was one of our volunteers,” Peltier said. “When I got here, there were about six or seven volunteers. Next thing you know, we have 31 volunteers we now call Ambassadors. The chamber has a small working board of about nine people who are just amazing and really dedicated. I owe a special thanks to Christine Brewster with Levin Rinke Resort Realty and Christine Brewster Photography for her leadership and guidance in my first year as president and CEO.”

Peltier said the partnership with the Island Authority is important as well.

“We have a partnership with Santa Rosa Island Authority – we manage the building for them, and they support the chamber. They give us money for fireworks every year and advertising money. It’s a wonderful partnership. And I’ve found tremendous support from the community.”

The chamber now has beach educational programs that are a collaboration between the chamber and local businesses, something that Peltier sees as unique.

“I think something unique about Pensacola Beach is just so much collaboration,” she said. “And it’s not that way sometimes in other communities. We all want to cross promote things. When Bands on the Beach is happening, businesses have happy hours and offer dinner specials to support that event. Every event that we have, everybody buys in. It’s unique and I think now we have a really special vibe. I have found that people on the beach seem to be looking for a unified solution to the problems that we have. So that’s been refreshing.”

Being a connector is a passion of Peltier’s and she loves seeing new businesses open on the beach and thrive.

“It helps older businesses gain more credibility, more relevance, navigate change. And now with all the mutual support that everybody has, there’s an energy on the beach right now that I can’t put into words.”

Businesses are thriving, growing and moving to the beach. Bear Fruit Bowls and Coffee is one of the newest businesses to find a home on Pensacola Beach. This little gem located at the foot of the fishing pier beside Casino Beach Bar & Grille is described as a beach retreat for a fresh, healthy açaí bowl and organic locally roasted coffee. Build your own refreshing snack of peanut or almond butter topped with fresh fruit and enhanced with natural sweeteners or try one of the many coffee options while you take advantage of free Wi-Fi and take a break from the sun.

Native Café is a local institution celebrating 15 years on Pensacola Beach. The most in-demand breakfast/ brunch/lunch spot on the beach for locals and tourists alike is expanding to make room for more guests and more good vibes. Visit thenativecafe.com or their Facebook page for progress reports.

Whisky Joe’s is newly open at

Quietwater Beach Boardwalk and is known for its World-Famous Barefoot Tiki Bar and tiki-inspired cocktails. Whisky Joe’s hosts weeknight happy hours and can host your special event in the event pavilion or the indoor event space. Visit for white sand, cold drinks, delicious food and sunsets over the waterfront views of Pensacola Beach. On the menu are mouthwatering “Floribbean” inspired dishes featuring Local Fish Tacos along with Grand Grouper Sandwich, Strawberry-Guava Rib Basket, Gator Bites and a Raw Bar.

High on the list of favorite Pensacola Beach activities is catching a Blue Angels practice in preparation for Red, White and Blues Week and the Pensacola Beach Air Show. Practice sessions can be viewed from the beach or Fort Pickens, and there are many opportunities to experience the Blue Angels practices from the water on cruise ships, pontoons or ferries via boat charters and rentals. Contact the Pensacola Beach Chamber at pensacolabeachchamber.com for a list of beach vendors and visit facebook. com/BlueAngelsPracticeInfo for the very latest Blue Angel’s practice schedule information. This year, Red, White and Blues Week events will take place July 5-8, culminating in the air show on July 8.

Another new spot on the beach is Piazza Pizza.

“Piazza Pizza just opened in the Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach.,” said Heather Hice, director of food and beverage marketing for Innisfree Hotels. “The outlet was established to provide one-of-a-kind, thin-crust, New York style pizza that is easily accessible to Pensacola Beach for both locals and visitors. Piazza Pizza offers delivery to Pensacola Beach residences or pickup for anyone lounging on the nearby sand. Our Italian oven was uniquely handcrafted brick by brick, constructed right here in our kitchen specifically for Piazza Pizza. The rotating stone-deck creates a crispy, golden-brown crust baked to perfection every time.”

Anyone who has lived in the area long has experienced a dining adventure at H20 Grill, which is undergoing a transition, too. Located inside the Hilton, H20 is being rebranded as Salt and offers seafood dishes with the vibrant flavors and rich cultural traditions of the Mediterranean. Follow Facebook posts at facebook.com/ saltpensacolabeach for up-to-date opening day announcements.

Of course, all those beach offerings are a draw for Pensacola residents, too. There has been an intentional effort to share information and create partnerships between business on the beach, in Gulf Breeze and the City of Pensacola.

“We have started creating partnerships with a lot of the things to do in Pensacola,” Peltier said. “For many years things were separate between the beach and Pensacola so I’m trying to literally bridge that gap. We’re partnering with the Florida Park Service and letting people know exactly when Fort Pickens is open and providing information on NAS. Even the zoo is a member of our chamber because that’s something great for kids. It’s not just the beach experience, but it’s the whole cultural experience and people getting to know what our whole community is about. We’re so rich. We have visitors from all over the world – Germany and Brazil and Japan and Alabama. They want to go to the beach, but they also want to have a different experience, so they ask ‘where can we go around here? What can we do?’ Now we’ve become more inclusive in the information that we offer and letting people know how much there is to do here.”

Pensacola Beach Chamber l o c a l a w a r d w i n n i n g membership is open to businesses across the bridge, too. Any individual or business can join the chamber which now has over 200 members that are from the beach, Gulf Breeze and Pensacola.

“Our collaboration and partnerships make us all stronger and better, everybody’s feeling that out here. At The Visitor Center, typically, we have 800 or 900 people come through our doors in February or March. This year in March we tallied 2,100 guests. That is more than we usually do in June and July. Something’s happening out here and in the Pensacola metro area; we’re getting in surveys as this great place to visit and to live.”

The word is out, and people are coming. They’re visiting. They’re moving. They’re staying for the high tides and good vibes.

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D I N I N G greatsouthernrestaurants.com